This law applies to every water or sewage utility, or both combined, upon a decision issued by the Council of Ministers to apply it to them.

The Water or Sewerage Authority, or both collectively in the context of this Law, is an entity with legal personality, and is administratively linked to the Ministry of Interior - Municipalities Agency.

The authority is responsible for everything related to drinking water and sewage in its area, including management, collection, operation, and other related matters.

The Authority shall have, for the purpose of achieving its objectives—without this being exclusive to its powers—the following:

• A) Drawing up and implementing a plan for the management and operation of drinking water and sewage.

• B) Carrying out all types of activities aimed at serving the water and sewage facility.

• C) Preparing, implementing, and developing projects for networks, purification stations, and basins—within cities—in accordance with their needs.

• D) Collecting the costs prescribed by law.

• E) Exercising all necessary actions to achieve the purpose for which it was established, including selling, purchasing, expropriation, and others.

• F) The Council of Ministers may, by its decision, delegate to the Authority the exercise of any other jurisdiction related to water and sewage.

The affairs of the Authority are managed by a Board of Directors consisting of:-

• 1- A part-time person who chairs the board, appointed in his name or by virtue of his position by a decision of the Council of Ministers based on the nomination of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs. It is permissible to appoint another part-time person in his name or by virtue of his position as a member and deputy chairman by a decision of the Council of Ministers based on the nomination of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

• 2- The mayor of the city where the Authority is located or his assistant.

• 3- The Director General of the Authority.

• 4- A representative from the Ministry of Finance and National Economy appointed by its minister.

• 5- A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water appointed by its minister.

• 6- A representative (physician) from the Ministry of Health appointed by its minister.

• 7- A representative from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs appointed by its minister.

• 8- Two members appointed by a decision of the Council of Ministers based on the nomination of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs. The mayor may be chosen to be the chairman of the Authority's Board of Directors. In the absence of the chairman and his deputy or if they are unable to attend the board sessions, one of the members from the employees shall deputize for them, taking into account seniority in rank.

The Council of Ministers shall determine the remuneration of the chairman and members of the Authority's Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is the governing authority over the affairs of the interest and the management of its matters, setting the general policy it follows, and it has all the necessary powers to achieve its objectives. Specifically, the Board has the following powers:

• A) Setting the general policy of the interest and monitoring its implementation.

• B) Issuing instructions, decisions, and regulations related to the workflow in the interest and ensuring its proper operation from technical, administrative, and financial aspects, within the limits of the provisions of this Law and the general regulations referred to therein.

• C) Issuing an administrative regulation that determines the authority to appoint the employees and workers of the interest, set their salaries, decide on their promotions, leaves, allowances, bonuses, transfers, secondments, loans, termination of services, disciplinary actions, and contracting with experts and consultants, in accordance with a general regulation that organizes these matters for water interests and is issued by a decision of the Council of Ministers based on the proposal of the Minister of Interior.

• D) Working to raise the efficiency of employees and workers and training them.

• E) Developing programs for water and sewage services.

• F) Maintaining the water and sewage networks, purification stations, equipment (.....), and pursuing those who cause damage to them until it is removed.

• G) Studying the reports and proposals submitted by the Director General of the interest and making decisions thereon.

• H) Addressing all problems that arise during the exercise of the interest’s duties and finding necessary solutions for them.

• I) Studying proposed amendments to the interest’s Law.

• J) Determining by regulation the method of collecting the value of consumed drinking water and the costs of connecting the two networks to homes.

• K) Approving the draft budget of the interest and issuing a special decree for it.

• L) Approving the draft final account of the interest for the purpose of ratification by the competent authority according to the Law.

• M) Accepting grants, donations, and bequests.

• N) Supervising the disbursement of the interest’s funds and setting investment programs for them.

The Board of Directors has the right to delegate some of its powers to the Director General of the Authority.

A) The Board of Directors meets once a month for a regular meeting... and it may hold an extraordinary meeting at the invitation of the President or his delegate, or at the request of three members... In either meeting, the President determines the place and date of the meeting, provided that it does not exceed one month from the date of the last regular meeting.

B) The quorum is considered met in the meeting when the majority of the members are present, provided that the President or his delegate is among them, and decisions are made by the majority of those present... However, if the President or his delegate objects to one of the decisions, the decision must be approved by two-thirds of the Board members present at the meeting following the meeting in which the objection occurred, and in the case of a tie, the side with the President prevails.

C) The President or any member of the Board of Directors is considered resigned if any of them is absent from attending three consecutive meetings without a legitimate excuse... The Board of Directors decides on the legitimacy of the excuse after hearing the viewpoint of the absentee without considering his vote.

D) The Board of Directors may invite to its sessions those whose knowledge or expertise it deems beneficial, without granting them a vote in the deliberations... The Board may form permanent or temporary committees from among its members or others who are specialists to address certain topics within its jurisdiction.